Songs for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Sock it to me Santa - Bob Seger and the Last Heard: Channelling the maestro, James Brown, Bob Seger sings his ass off on this track, which was recorded many moons before The Silver Bullet Band. With some high energy hand clapping and call and response backing vocals, this tune is so damn good, it’s easy to forget it’s actually a Christmas song.
Backdoor Santa Claus - Clarence Carter: Clarence Carter kills it on this track, injecting some funk into your holiday playlist. The horn section isn’t the only thing that’s naughty, with Carter boasting, “I ain’t like old Saint Nick...he don’t come but once a year.” Personally, I’m a big fan of the track and its array of innuendos. Bravo, Carter. You’re a righteous dude.
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Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’ - Albert King: ‘Cause let’s face it, the true meaning of Christmas is waiting until the kids go to sleep so you can knock boots with your honey. And if you love Albert King as much as I do, you know you can expect some real tasty licks on this track. A word of warning: this blues track is so dirty, your Christmas may be a little less than white.
Father Christmas - The Kinks: This track is exactly the kind of cheeky Christmas tune you’d expect from the Kinks. With raucous accounts of mugging Santa Claus for cash, this is a true blue rock and roll tune. With frenetic drums and riffs aplenty, the takeaway message is to “remember the kids who got nothin', as you're drinking down your wine.”
Step Into Christmas - Elton John: Goddamn it, if anyone can pull off a song that’s equal parts festive and catchy, it’s Sir Elton John. Totally slaying, er, sleighing on his Steinway, the rocket man really hams it up on this track. "Step into Christmas" was mixed to sound like one of producer Phil Spector's 1960s recordings, imitating his trademark "wall of sound" technique as an homage of sorts to Christmas songs by groups like The Ronettes.
Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles: While this track isn’t an original track by the Eagles, their rendition is, by far, my favourite. No surprise there. Don Henley will surely break your heart with this blue, blue holiday track.
River - Joni Mitchell: Joni Mitchell’s River is the moody Christmas song we all find ourselves identifying with at one time or another. With only piano accompaniment, this tune, like many of Mitchell’s other tracks on her Blue album, has an extremely intimate feeling. What’s most interesting about this song is that it was never intended to be a Christmas song, but has since become a holiday staple. Joni’s vocals shine on this track, and lyrically, there’s just no touching her.
Christmas Must be Tonight - The Band: I’m not a real religious gal, but I’m sure as shit not about to get my back up over this lovely little tune. There’s just something about the Band, and their ability to make you feel things you didn’t even think were in there. Danko’s tenor vocal suits this track perfectly, with Helm’s drumming having the capacity to make you cry, and the piano-organ combination that Band fans came to know and love.
I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake: In light of the recent loss of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Greg Lake, I thought it was appropriate to include this track. Released separately from ELP in 1975, this is a truly beautiful track that rejects commercialism and contrary to popular belief, doesn’t preach anti-Christianity. Peter Sinfield, who co-wrote and co-produced the track, described the song as “a picture-postcard Christmas, with morbid edges.”